1879 



*EPIDENDRUM bifidum. 



Hare- lipped Epidendrum . 



GYNANDRIA MON ANURIA. 



Nat. ord. Orchidaces, § Epidendre^. 

 EPIDENDRUM.— Snpr a, vol. \.fol. 17. 



E, hifidum ; foliis in pseudobulbos subternis lanceolatis, scapo ramoso folils 

 multo longiore, sepalis oblongis acutis petalisque lanceolatis patentibus, la- 

 belli cuneati lobis lateralibus ovatis : intermedio inaxiino apice dilatato sub- 

 reniformi sulcatobasi in disco biappendiculato (a columna fere libero). Gen. 

 et Sp. Orch.pl. 100. 



Helleborine florc papilionaceo. Plum. sp.9. ic. 186, y. 1. 



Epidendrum bifidum. Aubl. guian. p. 824. Sivartz Fl. Ind. Occ 3. 1489. 

 Willd. Sp.pl. no. 3. Redout. Liliac. 84. 



E. papilionaceum. West. St. Cruc. p. 230. sec. Willd. 



In this state E. bifidum appeared when, in July, 1835, a 

 specimen was communicated to me by Messrs. Loddiges. It 

 was then very pretty, on account of the beautiful veining of 

 its lip ; but it cannot have been any thing like so handsome 

 as Swartz describes it to be, with all the divisions of the 

 flower bright purple, and a flowering stem three feet high 

 and branching. 



It is a very remarkable and distinct species, with a pecu- 

 liar slit lip, by which it is readily known from all, except 

 E. auropurpureum, a kind that appears to be very nearly 

 related to it. 



\i is described as found upon branches of trees in the 

 West India islands, especially St. Christophers, St. Bartho- 

 lomews, and Santa Cruz. The Messrs. Loddiges had it 

 from Tortola ; Aublet found it in Cayenne. 



* See folio 1415. 



